A CATERPILLAR – CRAWLING IN THE GARDEN

by admin on March 23, 2015

Hi to My Butterfly Testimony family and friends! I am so sorry I haven’t blogged for a while. Life happened, and unfortunately, I have been crawling as of late. I have been bogged down by chores. But enough of that! I am writing this blog regardless of my long to do list. I am choosing today to put God first, trusting that He will multiply my time.

Are you ready to join me in soaring like a butterfly rather than crawling like a caterpillar? Let’s get ready to fly…

A CATERPILLAR

CRAWLING IN THE GARDEN

Life is flying, yet I am crawling. I work hard and go nowhere, quickly. I wish I could spread my wings and fly at the speed of life. Instead, I am creeping along at a caterpillar’s pace. Why am I not content to crawl like a caterpillar? Why do I feel an impulse to soar like a butterfly? Let’s examine a couple of verses for insight:

You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean. – Leviticus 11:42

So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.” – Genesis 3:14

Crawling on your belly is not an optimum place to be. In Genesis, Satan tempted Adam and Eve with a piece of fruit. What is it about that juicy fruit that made them want to munch like a caterpillar? It was the human condition of always wanting more. Wanting more than they had even though they had more than enough. More. And yet, more.

Perhaps we too eat dust because we covet more. Strive for more. Are discontent with less.

Some say that less is more. Could that be true?

Let’s ponder some of Adam and Eve’s actions. Yes, they disobeyed. But, why? God gave them everything. Surely they could have consulted with Him in the garden if they wanted more. But they didn’t. Perhaps the answer to this question gives answers to the reasons why we all crawl:

We don’t trust God’s words when He tells us not to eat from that tree. Just like Adam and Eve failed to heed His warning.

We misjudge our roles. Just like Adam and Eve who overstepped their role of stewardship over creation.

We strive for more, which blinds our judgment. Just like Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation.

I personally believe that with respect to spiritual warfare, one of Satan’s strongest weapons is keeping us busy. We work hard to afford basic items. Then we strive to have more than basics. Our kids are super busy; competing in sports, education, friendships, jobs, life. Non-stop. Finances are tight. Constricted, we work harder. Toil. Struggle. Why? Because the bite of the coveted fruit came with a price tag in Genesis 3:17-19:

To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Working hard certainly is a consequence to disobedience. But Satan pushes us to strive further for his own purposes—keeping us busy like bees so we don’t labor for God or get to taste the fruits of that labor—the honey. Keeping us from having a moment’s time to even ponder about God. How does this variety of fruit, Striving, taste? Is it sweet like my favorite fruit, Honeycrisp apples? Or has it been rotted by the worm named Satan? The answer depends on whether the harvest is nurtured by God.

Are you tempted by fruit tainted by a worm? Don’t let temptation consume you. Instead, ask God each day, “Lord, what do you have for me today?” Think of what could have happened had Adam and Eve consulted God before they picked their fruit. Asking God is the only way you can be sure the fruit you pick is juicy sweet.

God intended paradise for you—The Garden of Eden—eating sweet fruit from the land of milk and honey. He has opened the gate by the gospel of Jesus Christ. The good news is that He welcomes you back into the garden. We now can indeed walk with God and ask Him for help when tempted, for God lives in us through His Holy Spirit. So slow down and take a stroll in the garden with your Heavenly Father. Read His words and taste their sweetness.

God, thank you for the salvation you offer through Jesus Christ so that I can be near you. Wash me with your Holy Spirit so I am not tempted by the wrong things that consume my time. Forgive me when I run ahead without asking you first. Let me learn to strive less and for less. Lord, help me to soar like a butterfly rather than crawl like a caterpillar.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

To Consider:

What is the fruit capturing your eye? Talk to God about it today and ask Him before you take a bite.

Take time to think about your schedule. Are their things that are keeping you from walking in the garden with God?

Transforming Verses:
Read and reflect on John 14:23-24 and Philippians 2:14-18:

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. – John 14:23-24

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. – Philippians 2:14-18

Dearest Suzanne,
Thank you for your most inspiring devotional. I totally agree with you that most of us are crawling like caterpillers….thinking we are getting some where because we are busy. But the truth is we are just crawling!
God’s word says, “Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you REST. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light and you shall find rest unto your souls” We need to take time and rest and learn from the Holy Spirit.
Love, Frances Adnoff